Tavis Smiley isn’t paying any attention to those who believe that February, Black History Month, is the only time to celebrate African American history. The well-known African American political pundit, who hosts his own nightly television talker "Tavis Smiley" on PBS and "The Tavis Smiley Show" on Public Radio International, serves as the chief presenter and creative force behind "America I AM: The African American Imprint" (www.AmericaIAM.org), a traveling exhibition exploring more than 400 years of African American history.
Ambitious in scope, "America I AM" has 12 galleries that hit on everything from slavery and politics to music and sports. Featuring artifacts that could easily be tucked away (and maybe even forgotten) in various museums, thanks to Wal-Mart serving as the title sponsor, Smiley has been able to put this show on the road. "America I AM," which launched in Philadelphia during Dr. King’s birthday, has made Atlanta its second stop. So, from June 12 to Sept. 27, visitors can hit the Atlanta Civic Center to get a glimpse into the vast American legacy of African Americans. Here are 10 reasons why you should check in:
1. You can purchase discount tickets at $10 for adults and $4 for kids at Wal-Mart stores throughout Georgia. Otherwise, it’s $12 and $5 respectively.
2. A guided audio tour featuring Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West is available for an additional $3.
3. Dr. John Fleming, director emeritus of museums at the Cincinnati Museum Center, is the executive producer of the "America I AM," so Tavis, as he’s known, didn’t do it all himself. He had some help from an African-American history and museum expert. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Anna Deavere Smith and Cornel West are three well-known figures who also chipped in their expertise.
4. Arts and Exhibitions International, the same company behind "Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharoahs" and "Titanic: The Exhibition," has organized "America I AM" in conjunction with the Cincinnati Museum Center, so they have a track record.
5. If you caught a glimpse of the exhibit during the National Black Arts Festival last year, you haven’t seen it all. That was the mobile tour or “SuperTruck” part, which is still making stops. This one is the "let’s stay awhile" version.
6. At the beginning of the tour, walking through the “Doors of No Return” from Cape Coast Castle in Ghana as enslaved Africans did is highly emotional for everyone.
7. Prince’s purple guitar from his memorable Super Bowl XLI half-time performance in Miami in 2006 and the satin robe Muhammad Ali wore training for his legendary Rumble in the Jungle bout rank high among the too-cool items.
8. The key and stool from Dr. King’s freedom fighting Birmingham jail stint, where he wrote “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” is on display courtesy of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
9. It’s the multimedia age, so artifacts alone don’t tell the whole story. There is music and video, not to mention you can record your own imprint to help round out the story.
10. Take a little "America I AM" with you with the beautiful "America I AM Legends: Rare Moments and Inspiring Words" book. The stunning photos and quotes, many from famous people about other famous people, can’t help but move you.
Info
What: "America I AM: The African American Imprint"
Where: Atlanta Civic Center
When: June 12-Sept. 27, 2009.
Hours: The exhibit is on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed on Monday.
Cost: Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for kids. Discount tickets priced at $10 for adults and $4 for kids are available at Wal-Mart stores.
More info: Visit www.AmericaIAM.org or www.ticketmaster.com.
What other people are saying...
atlantablacklion from east point, ga - September 26, 2009 at 12:08 AM
This exhibit was so informative. It takes you from nearly the beginning of Africans being brought over to the Americas to the present day. I went...
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